This larger-than-life franchise, from the mind of film-maker George Lucas,
has played a huge part in our generation's popular culture since 1977
(though the original 13-page outline/story synopsis dates from May of 1973,
and the 1st edition novelization was available in 1976), and an introduction
to this beloved saga is hardly necessary. To briefly summarize its currency,
a galactic standard unit called the Credit is used to facilitate smooth
trade in the science-fictional Star Wars universe. Several identical
copies of the brass 1,000 Imperial Credits were included with the 1996
Parker Brothers Star Wars “Monopoly” board game. This piece has
“Imperial Credits” and “Coruscant” (the capital; its name, prominently
placed, perhaps indicates the primary world where the coin is intended to
circulate) written on its obverse, using letters from the
“Aurebesh”/“Aurek-Besh” alphabet. The Presidential/Imperial Palace, an
impregnably gigantic pyramidal structure, is also displayed. This coin is
based on a design for a two-credit coin which graphic artist Stephen Crane
(he was the art director of West End Games, and he developed the Aurebesh
beginning in 1993) had done for a product proposal and which was later
passed on to Lucasfilm when the merchandise was not approved.
Furthermore, “Credit coins often bear the unique name and symbol of the
planet where they were minted.” These include 3 other 1,000 Credit pieces: a
round copper coin from Ord Mantell, a 12-sided brass coin from Alderaan, and
a tear-drop shaped nickel-plated brass coin from Bespin. The first 2 display
the “starburst in diamond” logo of the Corporate Sector Authority. This trio
came with the 1997 Hasbro Star Wars
“Monopoly” CD-ROM, and was perhaps produced by the Hoffman Mint.
Lastly, there is another 1,000 Credit piece, which came with the 1999
Waddingtons (United Kingdom) Star Wars: Episode I “Monopoly” board
game. This one says “Galactic Republic” on the obverse, alongside a
rendition of Chancellor Valorum, their head of state; the reverse shows a
futuristic cityscape on Coruscant, the same setting as that of the palatial
residence mentioned above.